Reaction to reassignment of unionized employees at Batman Municipality

DİSK Güvenlik-Sen General President Yusuf Küçük claimed that pressure on unionized workers at Batman Municipality has increased recently. He stated that after 172 out of 300 municipal employees joined their union and authorization for a collective bargaining agreement was obtained, 4 workers had their duty stations changed.

In his statement, emphasizing that it is unlawful for employer representatives and supervisors to simultaneously serve as union representatives in order to hinder union organization, Küçük said, "172 of the approximately 300 workers at the workplace have become members of our union, Güvenlik-Sen. Those who saw that we would reach the majority required to apply for authorization during the collective bargaining process have initiated a systematic process of pressure to prevent our organization. Shift supervisors and managers, who are in the position of employer representatives, are exerting pressure on workers by being unlawfully appointed as union representatives at the same time. This clearly constitutes a violation of union freedom."

UNION: REASSIGNMENT MEANS EXILE

Küçük described the removal of union members working as security guards from their posts and their reassignment to cleaning duties at the Parks and Gardens Directorate as "an act of clear exile and punishment." He further alleged that the appointment of certain supervisors and managers as workplace representatives for the Özgüven-Sen union has increased pressure on workers and that powers are being abused.

"Our private security worker members, who serve under Law No. 5188, have been removed from their duties and assigned as cleaning workers in the Parks and Gardens Directorate solely because they engaged in union activities. This practice is a clear act of exile and punishment. The appointment of supervisors and managers, who are employer representatives, as workplace representatives by Özgüven-Sen is an unacceptable situation. These individuals, who should represent the workers, are abusing their authority to implement policies of pressure, threats, and intimidation against the workers.

We will not take a step back in the face of these attacks on union rights, which are guaranteed by the Constitution. We will continue to expose every illegality, every violation of rights, and every immoral practice."

It is also alleged that a security supervisor at the municipality threatened unionized employees to force them to resign.

The union has called for inspectors from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, and announced that it has filed a criminal complaint with the Batman Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against those responsible.

News Source: 12punto